The Strictly Low Histamine Diet

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Month: July 2016

Nature’s ‘Superfoods’ for People with Histamine Intolerance

Every body is different, so as always when you introduce a new food into your diet, we recommend trying a small quantity at first.

Asafoetida, fenugreek, turmeric, dill and nigella blackseed can be beneficial for people who are histamine intolerant. Scroll down to see some of the reasons why.

Fenugreek seeds

Fenugreek seeds have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The first recorded use of fenugreek is written on an ancient Egyptian papyrus dated to 1500 B.C. Fenugreek seed is a culinary spice; traditionally it was also used medicinally, to treat a variety of health problems including menopausal symptoms and digestive upsets.
A 2011 experiment in which lab researchers exposed the paws of rats to histamine, to make them acutely swell (‘oedema’), showed that an extract of fenugreek seeds “exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity” in the paws of the rats.

“Ferula assa-foetida (asafoetida) is not only used as a culinary spice but also traditionally used to treat various diseases, including asthma, gastrointestinal disorders, intestinal parasites, etc. This oleo-gum-resin has been known to possess antifungal, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic and antiviral activities.”

The seeds of Nigella sativa (family: Ranunculaceae), commonly known as Black Seed, Black Cumin, or “Habbatul Barakah”, have long been used in folk medicine in the Arabian Gulf region, Far East Asia, and Europe. (Find out more about traditional uses here.)

“Nigella sativa (blackseed) could partly protect gastric mucosa from acute alcohol-induced mucosal injury, and these gastroprotective effects could be due to (its) antiperoxidative, antioxidant and antihistaminic effects. ”

Please note!

The team behind “Is Food Making You Sick? The Strictly Low-histamine Diet” is always updating the book to reflect the latest scientific research. Look for the 2017 edition. The date is printed on the front cover and on the title page.

Flaxseeds (the 2014 and 2015 editions) are no longer listed as suitable for people with histamine intolerance.

Despite still being listed as “well-tolerated” by the Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance (SIGHI) and other reputable sources, coconut is no longer recommended for HIT sufferers. It has been added to the “foods to avoid” list in the book. Recipes in the 2017 edition have been revised accordingly.

The Strictly Low Histamine Diet is just that – strict. Our aim is to exclude any foods that possess even a minimal chance of aggravating the condition.